One of the big question marks resulting from reclassification is how well Siloam Springs will do while making the leap from Class 5A to the 7A/6A-West.
We’ll start to find out the answer tonight when Siloam Springs makes its conference debut at home against Rogers Heritage. Siloam Springs and Van Buren were added to the 7A/6A-West after longtime members Fort Smith Northside and Fort Smith Southside shifted to the 7A/6A-Central.
The former 7A-West has long been considered the toughest conference in the state with top programs like Bentonville, Springdale Har-Ber, and Fayetteville, the defending state champions. But before anyone starts feeling too sorry for Siloam Springs please remember that all 6A schools will advance to the playoffs regardless of their record.
That means Siloam Springs could’ve lost every game this season and still been eligible for postseason play in Arkansas’ ridiculously bloated playoff system. The Panthers (1-2) made sure that didn’t happen by beating Gravette 35-14 last week.
“It’s all about attitude and effort,” Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross said earlier this year about playing in the 7A/6A-West. “We can’t control what league we’re in. That’s out of our hands. What we can control is our preparation and how hard we play.”
Siloam Springs played well against Rogers Heritage last season in a 45-35 victory. But Rogers Heritage (3-0) appears much improved after winning only one game last season.
The guess here is that Siloam Springs will win at least two conference games before moving onto the state playoffs in Class 6A. But it won’t be tonight against a Rogers Heritage team that will continue its turnaround from a year ago.
RICK’S PICK: Rogers Heritage
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A/6A
Fort Smith Northside at GREENWOOD
Little Rock Parkview at FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE
BENTONVILLE at Springdale Har-Ber
Springdale High at ROGERS HIGH
Van Buren at FAYETTEVILLE
CLASS 5A
ALMA at Clarksville
Huntsville at GREENBRIER
Harrison at VILONIA
SHILOH CHRISTIAN at Morrilton
CLASS 4A
LINCOLN at Berryville
FARMINGTON at Gentry
GRAVETTE at Pea Ridge
PRAIRIE GROVE at Ozark
CLASS 3A
Melbourne at GREENLAND
Mountain View at WEST FORK
YELLVILLE-SUMMIT at Elkins
CLASS 2A
Decatur at HACKETT
MOUNTAINBURG at Johnson County Westside
LAST WEEK 17-5 (77 percent)
OVERALL 33-14 (70 percent)